About Sacred Heart · Rockne, Texas
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a small, rural Roman-Latin rite parish in the unincorporated community of Rockne, Bastrop County, Texas, in the Diocese of Austin. The parish traces its roots to the German-Catholic immigrants (Lehman, Goertz, Wolf, Meuth, and Wilhelm families) who settled the Walnut Creek / Sandy Creek area beginning in 1846, and its current church has stood on land donated by John T. and Rosina Lehman since 1892. The faith community still cherishes that German-Catholic heritage while serving English-speaking and (since August 2024) Spanish-speaking families, with weekend Masses, a robust lay-ministry program, CCD religious education K–12, OCIA, an active pro-life apostolate, and Thursday Eucharistic Adoration. It is twinned historically with neighboring St. Mary of the Assumption in String Prairie, sharing clergy and ministry staff.
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Dariusz Ziebowicz, S.D.S.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
Sacred Heart Rockne is a small, family-sized Catholic community where almost every neighbor is a parishioner, and the parish makes a point of welcoming everyone — practicing Catholics, non-Catholics, and seekers alike. Beyond weekend Mass, the parish feeds faith through a full lay-ministry program (ushers, lectors, extraordinary ministers, altar servers, music, environment), K–12 CCD, an OCIA (adult formation) program streamed on YouTube, and a growing Hispanic Ministry that launched a weekly Spanish Mass in August 2024. Thursday Eucharistic Adoration from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., a 30-minute daily Rosary before Mass, and an active Pro-Life apostolate (Project Rachel, Stephen Ministry, Courage) round out a parish that lives out its German-Catholic pioneer heritage in a modern, bilingual way.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM (30 minutes before Mass)
- Sunday: 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM (30 minutes before Mass)
- Also a half-hour before Friday Mass and by appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration: Thursdays 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM (no sign-up necessary)
Parish History
Sacred Heart's story is the story of Rockne itself. German-Catholic families from Silesia (the Lehmans, 1846) and from Würges, Germany (the Goertz, Wolf, Wilhelm, Meuth, and Hartmann families, 1856) settled the Walnut and Sandy Creek bottoms of southwestern Bastrop County. After Mass was first offered in the Phillip Goertz home in 1876, Ascension of Christ Church was dedicated in 1877, destroyed by arson in 1891, and replaced on March 27, 1892 by the present Sacred Heart Church on ten acres donated by John T. and Rosina Lehman. A third church was built on the same site in 1940 and renovated in 1976. The parish is honored on a 2006 Texas Historical Commission marker at 4045 FM 535.
- 1846 – Lehman family arrives from Silesia; settles Walnut Creek
- 1856 – Second wave of immigrants from Würges, Germany
- 1876 – First Mass celebrated in the Phillip Goertz home
- 1877 – Ascension of Christ Church dedicated on Walnut Creek
- 1891 – Ascension of Christ burned (arson); Lehman family donates 10 acres
- March 27, 1892 – Sacred Heart Church dedicated
- 1900 – St. Elizabeth's School (later Sacred Heart School) opens
- 1931 – Children rename town "Rockne" for Coach Knute Rockne
- 1940 – Third (current) church dedicated on 1892 site
- 1976 – Major renovation of the church
- 2006 – Texas Historical Commission marker placed at the church
Clergy & Staff
Sacred Heart is served by a Salvatorian priest, Father Dariusz Ziebowicz, S.D.S., together with two long-time permanent deacons — Deacon Roger Muehr and Deacon Alvin Frerich — and, more recently, Deacon Kyle Hammons. A robust lay staff runs the parish's ministries, formation programs, and operations.
- Pastor – Rev. Dariusz Ziebowicz, S.D.S.
- Deacon Roger Muehr (lifelong parishioner)
- Deacon Alvin Frerich (lifelong parishioner)
- Deacon Kyle Hammons
- Marilyn Klaus – Lay Ministry Director (Ushers, Lectors, EMHCs, Altar Servers, Music, Environment)
- Bill Kadura – Director of Religious Education (CCD)
- Rodney Kadura – Website Administrator and OCIA Director
- Linda Kutach – Pro-Life Coordinator
- Laura Wolbrueck – EIM (Ethics and Integrity in Ministry) Site Administrator
- Marci Zimmerman – Hall Rental Committee Chair
- James Page – Pastoral Council and Finance Council Formation
- Hispanic Ministry contacts: Alicia Olguín (Baptism/Quinceañera/Three-year Blessings), Susan & Wayne Masur (Altar Servers), Enrique Mota (Lectors), Pablo Santibañez (Ushers), Rosemary Armendariz (Eucharistic Ministers), Mauricio González (Coro)
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
Sacred Heart offers a full weekly Mass schedule in English, plus a Spanish Mass every Sunday at 10:30 AM. Confessions are heard before weekend Masses and on Friday; Thursday brings an extended block of Eucharistic Adoration; and the Rosary is prayed 30 minutes before every Mass.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM (English)
- Sunday: 8:00 AM (English) and 10:30 AM (Spanish)
- Monday 7:00 PM, Tuesday 7:00 AM, Thursday 7:00 AM, Friday 7:00 PM (weekday Masses in English)
- Confession: Sat 4:30–5:00 PM; Sun 7:30–8:00 AM; 30 minutes before Friday Mass; or by appointment
- Eucharistic Adoration: Thursdays 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM (no sign-up needed)
- Rosary: 30 minutes before every Mass
- Marriage: six-month notice required
- Baptism: one class required for parents and sponsors
Lay Ministry & Liturgical Roles
Following Vatican II's call for the full, conscious, and active participation of the laity, Sacred Heart organizes a six-fold lay-ministry program under Lay Ministry Director Marilyn Klaus, with published monthly schedules covering Ushers, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Altar Servers, Music, and Environment/Decor.
- Ushers
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHCs)
- Altar Servers (Monaguillos)
- Music ministry / Choir
- Environment & Decor
Faith Formation — CCD & OCIA
Children in grades K–12 are formed in the faith through the parish's CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program, directed by Bill Kadura. Adults discerning the Catholic faith — or simply wanting to learn more — join OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA), directed by Rodney Kadura, with Sunday-morning classes held in Holtman Hall and live-streamed on the parish's YouTube channel.
- CCD (K–12) – Director: Bill Kadura
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) – Sunday mornings 9:00–10:30 AM in Holtman Hall
- OCIA streamed on YouTube: @ocia.rockne.texas.1892
- OCIA candidates receive Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion at the Easter Vigil
- Lenten penitential rite held before Easter for candidates
Hispanic Ministry (Ministerio Hispano del Sagrado Corazón)
The parish launched a weekly Spanish Mass at 10:30 AM on Sunday, August 11, 2024, replacing the previous monthly midday Spanish Mass. The Hispanic Ministry meets monthly to plan liturgy and is building out lay-ministry roles, sacramental preparation, and family programming for the Spanish-speaking community.
- Misa en Español – todos los domingos, 10:30 AM
- Monaguillos – Susan y Wayne Masur
- Lectores – Enrique Mota (512-581-8347)
- Acomodadores – Pablo Santibañez (512-450-2848)
- Ministros Eucarísticos – Rosemary Armendariz (512-971-1910)
- Coro – Mauricio González
- Sacramentos (Bautismos, Eucaristía, Confirmación, Reconciliación, Matrimonio, Santos Óleos) – Alicia Olguín (512-786-4158)
- Bendiciones de Tres Años y Quinceañeras – Alicia Olguín
- Ofrecimientos de Misas – Rommy McDonald (727-420-3461)
Pro-Life & Outreach Apostolate
Under Pro-Life Coordinator Linda Kutach, Sacred Heart connects parishioners to a network of life-affirming ministries that serve both inside and beyond parish boundaries — from post-abortion healing to adoption referrals, support for families with same-sex-attraction members, and lay caring for the suffering.
- Project Rachel – post-abortion healing (512-949-2487, Diocese of Austin)
- Loving Hearts Christian Adoption Agency
- Stephen Ministry – lay caring outreach at St. Vincent de Paul
- Courage – support for those with same-sex attraction ([email protected])
- Breath of Life (512-219-8322) and Gabriel Project referrals
- Ministry to the Sick – visits to hospitalized and homebound parishioners
Parish Life, Hall Rental & Giving
Sacred Heart's community life is rooted in the rhythms of a small town: Christmas pageants, caroling to elderly neighbors, Easter egg hunts, weddings, and pancake breakfasts at the parish hall. Holtman Hall is available for rental for family events, and the parish offers secure online giving through its website.
- Holtman Hall rentals – contact Marci Zimmerman or Diana & Mauro Rodriguez (512-673-7422)
- Online Offertory via catholic.irockne.com
- Pastoral Council – consultative body working with the pastor
- Finance Council – stewardship of parish resources
- Adult Education – seasonal classes on a variety of religious topics
- Annual Christmas pageant and community caroling
- Easter egg hunts and parish hall pancake breakfasts
Rockne & the Wider Community
Sacred Heart is the social and spiritual center of Rockne, a rural community of roughly 400 in southwestern Bastrop County. It shares clergy and bulletin with its sister mission, St. Mary of the Assumption in String Prairie, and is documented on a 2006 Texas Historical Commission marker on its grounds. The Rockne Museum at Hilbig Park preserves the community's pioneer heritage.
- Sister parish: St. Mary of the Assumption, String Prairie, TX (shared pastor and deacons)
- Texas Historical Commission marker, Atlas No. 5021009223, placed 2006
- Cemetery on parish grounds, including the 'Cemetery of Innocents' used for the annual Corpus Christi procession
- Nearby Rockne Museum and Hilbig Park (community heritage site)
- Historical marker also referenced at the University of Notre Dame (Knute Rockne connection)